Modified polylactic acid, polymeric blends and methods of making the same

Abstract

Polymeric compositions and processes of forming the same are discussed herein. The processes generally include contacting a polylactic acid with a reactive modifier selected from epoxy-functionalized polybutadiene, ionic monomer, and combinations thereof.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A process for forming a polymeric composition comprising:
 contacting a polylactic acid with a reactive modifier selected from epoxy-functionalized polybutadiene, ionic monomer, and combinations thereof; and 
 contacting the polylactic acid and the reactive modifier with a polyolefin to produce a polyolefin-polylactic acid blend, wherein the polyolefin exhibits a melt flow rate of less than about 6 dg/min. 
 
     
     
       2. The process of  claim 1 , wherein the polyolefin exhibits a melt flow rate ranging from about 0.5 dg/min. to about 6 dg/min. 
     
     
       3. The process of  claim 1 , wherein the polylactic acid is selected from poly(D-lactide), poly(L-lactide), poly(DL-lactide), and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       4. The process of  claim 1 , wherein the polylactic acid has a concentration of from about 2 wt. % to about 98 wt. % based on the total weight of the polymeric composition. 
     
     
       5. The process of  claim 1 , wherein the reactive modifier contacts the polylactic acid in a concentration of from about 2 wt. % to about 30 wt. % based on the total weight of the polymeric composition. 
     
     
       6. The process of  claim 1 , wherein the reactive modifier is an epoxy-functionalized polybutadiene oligomer. 
     
     
       7. The process of  claim 6 , wherein the epoxy-functionalized polybutadiene oligomer has a number average molecular weight in a range from about 500 g/mol to about 20000 g/mol. 
     
     
       8. The process of  claim 1 , wherein the reactive modifier is an ionic monomer. 
     
     
       9. The process of  claim 8 , wherein the ionic monomer is an organometallic salt having acrylate functional groups. 
     
     
       10. The process of  claim 1 , wherein the polyolefin is selected from polypropylene, polyethylene, copolymers thereof and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       11. The process of  claim 1 , wherein the polyolefin has a concentration of from about 2 wt. % to about 98 wt. % based on the total weight of the polymeric composition. 
     
     
       12. The process of  claim 1 , further comprising processing the polymeric composition using fiber extrusion or coextrusion. 
     
     
       13. A process comprising:
 forming a polymeric composition by contacting a polylactic acid with a reactive modifier selected from epoxy-functionalized polybutadiene, ionic monomer, and combinations thereof; 
 processing the polymeric composition using one or more polymer processing techniques selected from: film, sheet, pipe extrusion or coextrusion, blow molding, injection molding, rotary molding, and thermoforming.